Newcastle fight Liverpool and Spurs for Connor Wickham

05 May 2011 09:30
Alan Pardew is hoping to beat off competition from Liverpool and Tottenham and take Connor Wickham to St James' Park.[LNB] The Newcastle manager is hoping the lure of regular Barclays Premier League football will entice one of the hottest prospects in English football to quit Ipswich for Tyneside.[LNB] Hot property: Ipswich will want at least ?10m for Connor Wickham[LNB] Pardew, still armed with the ?35million Andy Carroll transfer kitty, signed Wickham as a rookie for Reading before the 18-year-old England Under 21 striker joined Ipswich, and he has monitored him since.[LNB] The Newcastle boss wants to bring in at least two forwards this summer to replace Carroll and add competition. Reading's Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long is on the radar along with Cardiff's Jay Bothroyd.[LNB] Wickham, who has scored seven goals this season, is expected to leave Ipswich this summer, although the Suffolk club will want at least ?10m for him.[LNB] Ipswich boss Paul Jewell said: 'I'm not looking to sell Connor and I don't think he is looking to leave, but if someone came in with a silly offer and he wanted to go we would have to listen to it.'[LNB] PREMIER LEAGUE NEW KIT SPECIAL: Strips your team will wear in 2011-12Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham lose over ?1m as programme printer folds[LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People: Jay Bothroyd, Paul Jewell Places: Newcastle, Cardiff, Liverpool, Republic of Ireland

Source: Daily_Mail